Massage device.



' H. L. HOARD.

MASSAGE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 19:4.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- H. L. HOARD.

MASSAGE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29. I914.

- Patented Jan. 30,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- H. L. HOARD.

MASSAGE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 1914.

Patented J an. 30, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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EALBERT L. HOARD, F FORT ATKINSON, WISCONSIN.

MASSAGE DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917:.

Application filed July 29, 1914:. Serial No. 853,788.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Hammer L. Hence,

a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Fort Atkinson, county of Jeii'er son, and State of 1V isconsin, have invented new and useful improvements in Massage Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a massage device or apparatus for applying massage treatment to a persons back, and the same is explained by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 represents a side view. Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Fig. 3 is a rear view thereof.

Like parts are identified by the same rcfercncc numerals throughout the several views.

1 is a chair. The chair 1 is supported at its respective sides from the slidable platform 2 through a pair of brackets 3, and a pair of coiled springs 4-, or in any equivalent manner. @no end of each of said springs t is rigidly clamped to one of the vertical sides of one of the brackets 23, and the opposite ends of said springs are secured to the bottom 6 of the chair. It will be understood that when the chair 1 is thus supported from the brackets 3 and the links 3 removed, the resiliency of the springs 4 is such as to permit such chair to be oscillated freely forwardly and backwardly by a person sitting thereon.

9, 9 are a pair of foot rests which are provided with a plurality of stirrups 10 which are made adjustable to correspond with the length of diiferent persons using the chair, upon which foot rests the operator may place his feet when using the chair.

12 is the back of the chair, from the upper end of which is suspended one or more thicknesses of canvas 14, which extend down to or near the bottom of the chair, thence upward and over the central portion of the rod 11, thence back to the rear of the chair, thence forwardly, when it is connected at its front end with the revoluble rod 5. The space between the upper end of the back and the seat portion 15 of canvas is left open for the reception of the massage rollers 16. The massage rollers 16 are revolubly supported from the arms 20, 20. The arms 20, 20, are adjustably affixed to the central member 31 by a plurality of eye bolts 32. The central member 31 is rigidly supported at its respective side from the rods 19, which rods 19 are each pivotally supported at their lower sides from the movable platform 2 by the retaining members 2 2. While a singleroller may, if desired, be used, 1 preferably employ a plurality of such rollers. The rollers 16 are caused to bear with a yielding pressure against the canvas 1% by the spiral springs 41, said springs f being movably connected at one end to said rods 19 through the collars 22, and at their opposite ends with a stationary member 23 through the collar 24. The rear springs 4' exert pressure when rollers are raiscu above the middle of the back of the operator. Gravity crowds the body of the operator backward against the rollers.

As a means of operating the device and manually increasing or decreasing the sure of the rollers against the operators back, the rods 19 are extended forwardly terminating in handles 26, whereby it is obvious that by pressing downwardly upon said handles, the pressure of the rollers 16 against the back of the user will be in creased, and by pressing upwardly, diminished, so that each user may increase or diminish the pressure of the rollers against his back, as suits his convenience or as circumstances require. It will be'understood that when the bars 3 are connected to the chair and platform, as shown in Fig. 1, the chair itself will remain at rest when the rollers 16 are caused to traverse upwardly and downwardly across the users back by a downward and upward pressure on the handles 26. The lower end of the rods 19 are pivotally connected with the platform 2 through a plurality of staples 2 or other equivalent mechanism, bar 5 which forms a fulcrum and a pair of spring plates 6, 6 which yield in every direction with each reciprocating movement of the massage rollers, whereby such rollers are caused to bear with uniform pressure against a persons back throughout their entire course, the spring plate (3, 6 being so shaped as to permit the lower end of the rods 19 to move forwardly and backwardly with each downward and upward movement of the handles 26, whereby the rollers 16 are caused to bear with a yielding pressure against the users back at the extreme limit of their upper and lower movements, as will be necessary when the seat 16 of the chair is rigidly retained in place by the bars 3.

pres- It will be understood that when my device able platform is raised free from contact with the floor, when the entire device will rest upon the supporting casters 30, whereby the apparatus may be conveniently rolled from one place to another as circumstances require.

While I have shown two rollers 16 in vertical alinement with each other, it is obvious that a plurality of similar rollers may be arranged side by side in longitudinal alinement, if desired, while the arms 20 may be rigidly affixed to the central member 31, I preferably connect the upper arm 20 with said central member through a hinge 21, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby such arm and the roller 16 thereon, may be thrown up to the position indicated by dotted lines in said Fig. 1. It will be understood that by extending the canvas 14 forwardly so as to form a seat for the user, the massage rollers 16 may be moved down beneath the lower which could not otherwise be successfully produced.

While I have shown and described the roller 16 as being revolubly supported from the arms 20, and the arms 20 connected with the central member 31 for brevity of description the arms 20 and their supporting members are hereinafter referred to as roller carriers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of a seat, a platform, means for connecting said seat to said platform in a substantially rigid position, a flexible fabric connected with the back of said seat, a roller carrier, a roller rotatably mounted on said carrier and bearing on said flexible back, and means for manually transmitting motion to the carrier ;said carrier being adapted to follow the back and simul taneously move the roller over the surface thereof.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HALBERT L. HOARD.

/Vitnesses ALMA K. VENTER, PAUL H. TRATT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

